Taufik Kiemas goes back home

Taufik Kiemas goes back home

Bahrul Ilmi Yakub, The Jakarta Post, Palembang

President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband, Taufik Kiemas, and
his entourage arrived here on Tuesday to visit the victims of
flooding in Pagaralam, his hometown, some 350 kilometers
southeast of the provincial capital of Palembang.

The are was hit by floods on Thursday.

Also present in Taufik's entourage were Minister of Research
and Technology Hatta Radjasa, Minister of Resettlement and
Regional Infrastructure Soenarno, Minister of Cooperatives and
Small and Medium Enterprises Alimarwan Hanan, Minister of
Forestry Mohamad Prakosa and Minister of Trade and Industry Rini
Soewandi and several legislators of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Besides pledging a personal donation, Taufik raised Rp 1.16
billion during a lunch with local officials and businessmen at
South Sumatra Governor Rosihan Arsyad's official residence in the
city prior to their departure to Pagaralam on Tuesday.

"The funds will be handed over in full to the Pagaralam
administration to be distributed to the flood victims," he said.

He declined to reveal the amount he would donate to the flood
victims.

The governor has donated Rp 20 million.

The death toll has reached 22 in Kerinjing and several other
villages in Pagaralam. Hundreds of locals whose houses were
flooded are still taking refuge in nearby villages.

Sources at the local administration said Taufik would visit
his home village of Tanjung Raman, which was also flooded, and
visit his ancestors' graves there.

Separately, Lahat Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Budi Setyadi
said on Tuesday that humanitarian assistance for flood victims
was being flown in from numerous parties inside and outside the
province.